The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-13
Especial to the Press.)

AUGUSTA, Jan. 1.-THE first formal
speech of the session was made this fore
noon in the House, when Mr.. Wakefield of
Bath presented his resolution relating to the
Dunn free ship bill now before Congress,
and asked its immediate passage under a
suspension of the rules. The text of this
resolution is as follows
Whereas, The bill now pending before Con-
gress for the admission OF foreignbut ships to an
American register is inimical to one of the lead
ing industries of eur State, and threatens to de-
stsoy &c constant and lucrative source of employ
ment Tor our labor; therefore be it
ResotUed by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes OF the State OF Maine in Legislature
ship bill $50 caled) would be a cruel and fatal
blow to the prosperity of our American merchant
marine
Resoived, That as shipbuilding is a national in
terest affecting the national prosperity of our
whole country, as we have the capital, materials,
would now drive skilled labor into other and un
tried avenues OF employment, discouraging the
investment OF American capital in Americ an en-
terprises, and make this great nation weak de-
pendent upon foreign labor and capital liable at
any moment to assume a hostile attitude.
Amerean st s s9t or r. 70 sn great
comment OF the wise policy of our fathers, is as
unpatriotic as 1t is unnecessary.
hereby directed to forward an authenticated
copy Of the foregoing resolutions to the president
VI LIt Cendte ana speaker oil the House of ReDre-
sentatiyes in Congress assembled with request
bodies.
Mr.. Wakefield said he had not designed to
trespass ON the time of the House at this
time, and should not do so were it not that
there now lies before the members of the
National Congress measure that would, If
passed, ruin the city which he had the honor
to represent. History tells us, he said, of
the terrible sufferipgs endured by the found
ers of the government. Those sacrifices re-
suited in the formation of free and dis
tinctively American government
In those early days our fathers cherished
our merchant marine. To do this they placed
in our organic law provision that
no foreign vessel should be enrolled
on our register, and that no foreign
ers should command an American vessel.
By the observance of this law thrift and
prosperity was brought to our people, and
class of hardy sailors were raised up, ready
to carry our flag into every port and defend
it in every sea. But the civil war came on
Then England, the mother country, envious
of our prestige, attempted to destroy our
naval power. Then we had to devote our
energies to the war. Our sailors went to the
navy, our ships to blockade Southern ports.
We could not attend TO our foreign COM
merce. Then England determined to Grip
pie us, and her privateers pursued our mer-
chantmen on every ocean. In these times,
too, England began to put iron and steam to
the uses Of her commerce. The result has
been that our carrying trade, crippled by
the spoliation of war, has been fast going to
decay. Now, as our marine is needing
every advantage the safeguards put around
our commerce by our fathers, are threat
ened with destruction by this Dunn bill.
Should this bill pass, in peace we should be
ridiculous and in war pitiable in the sight of
our neighbors.
Mr.. Wakefield had the clerk of the House
read portion of the Dunn bill, and then
continued, saying that this was not politi-
cal question on which national parties may
divide, but national question on which all
should stand together. He set forth the re-
suits which would follow the enactment of
the Dunn bill, and said that England built
up her merchant marine by hostile legisla-.
tion which has crippled weak governments.
So far as she does this directly we need not
complain, but so far as she attempts to do
this through our Congress, we have right
to say that she shall cease, that our Congress
is to legislate for American interests, not for
British.
Mr.. E. K. O'Brien, Democratic Represent
ative from Thomaston, and a large ship
owner, seconded Mr.. Wakefeld's motion,
and the resolution was passed, under sus-
pension of the rules, through its first and
second readings.